Phenomenology of Hallucinations: Effects of Sociocultural Factors

The present study was designed to assess the phenomenological differences in hallucinations of schizophrenic patients by gender and social class. A total of 98 patients were interviewed using Present State Examination (PSE) categories (Wing, Cooper, & Sartorius, 1974) of hallucinations from the two psychiatric units in Lahore. When the sample was analyzed as a whole, the verbal (auditory) hallucination was found to be the most common one followed by the visual hallucination. The amount of differences in the frequency of different forms of hallucinations by gender and social class was not substantial. The results showed significant gender differences in greater frequency of men listening threatening voices, commenting, and criticizing their behavior and actions. Significantly greater number of men believed that voices of people were talking to them in first person. The patients from high social class also exceeded low social class in hearing voices of people. The analysis of the thematic content of visual hallucinations indicated that more men were visualizing mental or real images of people, whereas greater frequency of women and low social class reported to see spirits and demons. The results were interpreted with reference to the cultural and social factors prevalent in Pakistan.